It is eight years after the P.S. 118's fourth grade class's adventure in San Lorenzo. This whole time, Arnold wasn't able to return to Hillwood, but he has been constantly writing to Gerald and Helga. They are all now 18 years old and his friends are in their second semester of their senior year at Hillwood High School.

Phoebe and Gerald walked Helga home after another long, tiring day at school.

"Man, I can't believe what we have to do for our English project. Read a Shakespeare play and present it to the class? And play a scene from it? Who knew that our 4th grade teacher was going to be our high school English teacher?" complained Gerald.

"Ah, put a sock in it Geraldo, there's nothing we can do about it. Besides, we all know that Simmons has it in for that sappy stuff," said Helga.

"I'm afraid Helga's right Gerald. After all, the class is called 'Shakespeare 101.' It's a two-month project after all, so we have plenty of time. Besides, I must say I like the one I chose for our group."

"Oh yeah, Pheebs? What's so great about it? Is it the tragic death of half of the cast?" interjected Helga dramatically.

Phoebe laughed at her best friend's response. "On the contrary Helga, Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy play. It's the story of two couples. One couple falls in love and desire to declare to it to the world. On the other hand, the other couple struggles to confess their feelings toward one another and hide it by exchanging insults. There's even a part when one of the characters pretends to be dead."

"Wow, a person who fakes death? What for?" asked Helga with sudden eagerness.

"You'll have to read it to find out for yourself Helga," giggled Phoebe.

"I didn't even know comedy was in Shakespeare's vocabulary. All right babe, you can count me in," Gerald said to Phoebe as he kissed her on the check.

Man, those two have been inseparable since Gerald asked Phoebe to homecoming freshman year. They make such a cute couple. You can really tell how deeply they love and care for each other. I'm so happy for them and jealous at the same time. Someday I hope to have what they have with…

"So Helga, have you heard from Arnold yet?" Gerald's voice interrupted Helga's train of thought. Helga decided to tell Gerald about her and Arnold exchanging letters shortly after he got together with Phoebe. He wasn't too surprised with the news based on how Arnold reacts every time she comes up in their conversations.

"Nope, not recently. You?"

"No, me neither. It's ok, I'm sure it'll be soon. At least he's able to send his letters first class so we can get them sooner."

"I know that Geraldo, you think I've gotten used to that fact after writing to him for eight years," responded the blond haired teen as she rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry Helga…I just really miss him that's all."

"It's ok Gerald, I miss him too," said Helga as she tries to remember their romantic moment in the jungle eight years ago. I don't ever want to forget the most beautiful moment we've ever shared.

"I miss him too. He's such a good friend to us all," said Phoebe. "Didn't he apply to Heighten University like the rest of us?"

"Yea babe, but he hasn't heard back from them yet," sighed Gerald.

"Well, I hope he gets in like we did. It would be nice for the four of us to go to school together again," said Phoebe.

Before they knew it, they arrived at Helga's house, with her mom parked out front.

"Oh hey kids! Why the gloomy faces?" asked Miriam as she got out of her car.

"It's nothing Mom. We're all just tired that's all."

"Ahh that's too bad. Do you think you have enough energy to help me bring in the groceries?"

"Yeah mom. In a sec." Helga turned to Phoebe and Gerald. "You lovebirds go on ahead. I'll see you guys later."

"Ok, Helga," said Phoebe as she gave her best friend a hug.

"See you later Helga," said Gerald as he high-fived her. Helga then watched them happily as they walked away with his arm around Phoebe's waist.

Inside the kitchen, as Helga was helping her mom put away the groceries, Helga spotted a bottle of alcohol in one of the grocery bags and got worried.

"Mom, what's with the vodka? Did you fall off the wagon? You've been doing so well these past couple of years."

Her mother smiled at her. "Relax honey. That vodka is for your dad. His birthday is coming up and I got him that for his birthday. Plus it's also to celebrate that he was finally able to get a job as manager of that electronic store over by 17th avenue. We both know that getting that job really did cheer him up especially after Big Bob's Beepers went out of business almost 8 months ago.

"Don't worry, Helga. I enjoy my new life now. I love my job in Real Estate because it's not too stressful so I can still have time to take care of this family. And to spend more time with you of course. I regret not being there for you when you were younger."

Helga let out a huge sigh of relief. When her mom decided to quite drinking two years ago, she went through a lot of stuff, including attending alcohol anonymous meetings and staying at a rehab center for a bit. It was a big struggle for her and the family, but it was worth it. As Miriam's alcohol addiction gradually died down, so did her ignorance towards Helga. She started to be more attentive to her younger daughter and Helga finally has a mother to love and adore and she never wants her mother to go down that road again.

Helga couldn't help but smile and hug her mom. "Thanks mom, it means a lot to me." Then she looked around to see that the kitchen table is empty. "Well, it seems that all the groceries are put away. I'm going to head to my room."

"Alright Helga thanks honey. By the way, you got a letter from that friend of yours in San Lorenzo. It's with the rest of the mail by the phone."

"Got it mom thanks!" Helga yelled as she ran up the stairs.

Before Helga read the letter from Arnold, she locked her door and changed into grey sweats and a white t-shirt and plopped onto her bed. Even after eight years of receiving letters from Arnold, her heart always skips a beat when she begins to read each one.

"Oh Arnold my football-headed lug, you write yet another to me. I enjoy every single letter I receive from you. I feel like I get closer to you with each letter even though we're worlds apart. Oh my love, I can barely wait to unfold what wonders you tell me." She opened the letter and started to read:

Dear Helga,

Congrats on getting into Highten University! I haven't heard from them yet, but I hope it's soon. But even if I don't get in, my family and I are still planning on moving back to Hillwood during the summer.

That's great to hear about your dad was finally able to land a job a manager of an electronic store.

So besides all that, how are things going with you? How's school and everyone? As for me, I'm doing well, although the weather here makes me wish we had air conditioning.

Everyone here is just fine. Remember that medicine book that I've been telling you about, the one my parents have been writing for the Green-Eyed People? Well, they're almost done with it after all these years, but they still have some remedies to include. Mom and Dad are out right now in the jungle finding herbs that will help cure the common cold. I know it sounds silly – to make our own remedy when we can just go to the store and buy medicine. But the villagers here in San Lorenzo and the Green Eyed People don't like that stuff – they say it's not natural and we should stick to the recourses that mother nature has given us. They do have a point, but I guess it's harder when you live in the city like we did.

Myra is doing fine as well. She just turned 6 last week. For her birthday, I made her a little flower crown with the flowers I got from the nearby flower patch. I know it's not much, but hey I love making my little sister happy. She never gets tired of the stories I tell her. I've must have told her a thousand stories by now – from the legends that Gerald tells us to the crazy things that happen between you, me, and our classmates. Her favorite one is the story of the ghost bride because she loves the part where we all went to the cemetery that night to see if the legend is true and you and Curly became fake ghost brides to scare us. Myra was scared when I first told her the legend, but laughed so hard when I told her what we did. My parents were pretty amused by the story as well.

I enjoy every moment I spend with my family. Over the years, I've gotten so much closer to my parents and my little sister. I hope someday you get the chance to see my parents again and meet Myra. I've told them so much about you (but not too much). Myra really wants to meet you. She can't believe that I'm friends with someone who used to bully me. I guess that does sound weird when you think about it, huh? But it's ok. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I forgive you for the way you were treating me when we were kids. You made up for this these past eight years by showing to me what a nice person you really are. I always knew you had it in you. I just hope that someday when we see each other again your bullying side doesn't come back as well. (You might give Myra bad ideas haha).

Hope to see you soon. Take care always.

Best Wishes,

Arnold

Helga could not help but read the letter again and again. She immediately took out a piece of blank stationary paper and started to write her reply to Arnold. Afterwards, she went into her closet and pulled out a rather big box. Inside it was full of past letters that Arnold wrote to her. She kissed the letter that she just got from him and put it in the box. I can't wait for the day until we see each other again. I promise you I will not screw it up.